Chapter 6

The air seemed to freeze around me. I stared at him, the man I once loved the most.

Even after six months, I saw no regret or guilt in his eyes. He was the head Alpha, but he still did not want to find out the truth.

Justin narrowed his eyes on me. “Why are you scrubbing the floor? Is this what you usually do?”

I averted my gaze from him and got up. I would not let him be satisfied with my situation.

“Yes, Alpha,” I replied, lowering my head.

Justin let out a cold snort. “So obedient! Did you deliberately make yourself look this miserable to play the victim in front of me?”

I tightened my fists.

I had had enough. I was no longer the weak woman I used to be.

I got up and replied without giving him a glance.

“I’m a prisoner. I’m just doing my job,” I shot back, then turned away, refusing to engage with him further.

“Justin, she intentionally ruined my shoes,” Nova said to him, then looked back at me.

“Kneel down and apologize to me,” she demanded.

“It was just a mistake,” I muttered.

She grabbed my arm tightly and said, “Don't you think you are forgetting something?” She warned me about nanny Salma.

I did not want to kneel. Tears welled in my eyes as I hesitated. But I had no power since I was no longer the gamma's daughter.

Unknowingly I glanced at Justin to see his reaction. He didn’t even look at me.

My heart sank. I scoffed in my head. ‘Once again you thought he could take your side, Erica?’ I asked myself in disappointment.

My knees shook as I was about to kneel before Nova.

Justin frowned and muttered with an enraged tone.

“Disgusting!”

Then he walked past me, leaving the office.

The rulers were startled to see him leaving. So they called out,

“Alpha Justin!”

Nova gave me a disgusted look and left the office to follow Justin. I sighed as I did not have to kneel.

“What are you waiting for? Go back to your shift!” One of the rulers yelled at me in anger.

I quickly left the head quarter and went to my regular duty, which was breaking the wood.

By the time my shift ended, I was completely drained. My hands were raw and bleeding, a painful souvenir I brought home every single day.

When ​I had just finished rubbing cooling herbs into my torn palms, a shadow fell over me.

I turned to start the long walk home, but someone was standing right in my way. My heart didn't skip a beat; instead, it turned to ice. I felt cold inside my heart as I mumbled,

“Alpha Justin?”

_____

Justin’s POV

I didn’t move. I just stood there, tall and still, watching Erica as the last light of dusk faded around us.

When I stepped toward her, she actually took a step back.

As if I were the one who had hurt her.

The scent of pine and dirt clung to her clothes, clashing with the expensive cologne I was wearing. I wrinkled my nose in disgust.

“Why did you block my way?” she asked, taking a deep breath.

Block her way?

“Are you intentionally doing this to show me how miserable you are here?” I said coldly. “When are you going to stop playing the victim, Erica?”

She looked away from me. “Think whatever you want, Alpha. Just move. I have nothing to do with you.”

Her tone stunned me.

I had assumed she wasn’t having such a hard time here. After all, everyone knew she was my mate. I thought she’d beg me to take her back.

Instead, she was giving me an attitude I didn’t like at all.

When she tried to walk past me, I grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward me.

She gasped, her body going rigid. Her fists tightened, like she was hiding something.

“Let go of my hand,” she muttered, staring at my chest instead of my face.

I ignored the tremor in her voice.

“Pretending to be hard to get?” I scoffed. “You must be regretting everything by now.”

She slowly lifted her eyes to mine.

For a split second, something in her gaze made my chest tighten—but I refused to acknowledge it.

“Don’t forget,” I said, glaring at her, “you are still my mate. If I want to, I can punish you a thousand different ways.”

Tears gathered at the corners of her eyes.

“Then how about I reject you?” she said.

Rage surged through me.

“What did you say?” My voice turned icy. “You are not qualified to reject me. As the Alpha, only I can do that. And I will—when I’m in a good mood.”

I shoved her hand away. She stumbled backward.

“And stop pretending you’re desperate for rejection. You know no one in this territory is more powerful than I am. You’ll never find anyone even close to my level. Not in this lifetime.”

“Justin.”

Nova’s voice came from behind me.

I turned and saw her hurrying over. “It’s time to leave,” she said, then shot Erica a glare.

I wrapped my arm around Nova’s waist and pulled her close.

“Let’s go, babe,” I said softly. “This place isn’t for you. It’s only for dirty people like her. You shouldn’t stay here.”

Erica looked at us once—cold, unreadable—then turned and walked away without another word.

For some reason, watching her back as she left didn’t feel like victory.

But I told myself it was.

 _______

Erica’s POV

My steps felt heavy as I made my way back home.

Justin’s words still echoed in my head, sharp and merciless. I forced myself not to think about him, not to feel anything—but my chest still ached with every breath.

When I pushed open the door, I froze.

Someone was inside.

My heart jumped into my throat.

A man was sitting on the floor, his back resting casually against the wall. He was dressed in fresh clothes, his damp hair clinging slightly to his forehead, as if he had just finished showering.

For a split second, fear seized me.

Then I recognized him.

A sharp gasp escaped my lips.

“Kael?” My voice trembled as relief flooded through me. “You’re back!”